Method of casting the hulls of ships from concrete and floating said hulls into a launching-bay



. 1. .H-. HQLMGREEN. METHOD 0F lCASTING THE HULLS OF SHIPS FROM CONCRETE AND FLOATING SAID'HULLS INTO A:

LAUNCHING BAY. l APPLICATION FILED OCT- 5. IBIS-v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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6.@@7 ttoznus Patented June 28, 1921;

l. H. HOLMGREEN. METHOD 0F CASTING THE HULLS 0F SHIPS FROM CONCRETE AND FLOATING SAID HULLS INTO A LAUNCHING BAY. APPLlCATloN FILED 001.5. 1918.

Patented June 28, 1921.

2 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

UNIrsn stares Parent ortica.

JULIUS H. EOLMGREEN, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS,

.METHOD OF CASTING THE HU'LLS 0F SHllPS FROM CONCRETE AND FLOATING SAID HULLS NTO A LAUNCHING-BAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 28, 1921 Application filed October 5, 1918. Serial No. 257,053.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Juiiius H. HOLM- ciinnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Methods of Casting the llulls of Ships from Concrete and Floating Said `flulls into a Launching-Bay, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to a novel method of molding or casting the hulls of ships and other' floating craft from concrete or suitable plastic material.

The object of the invention is to facilitate and expedite the construction of concrete hulls by casting the hull in a permanent mold 0r form and subsequently releasing the hull from the mold by hydrostatic means and floating said hull into the launching bay or channel.

A further object is to provide a method, in the practice of which, the employment of scaffolding around the exterior ofthe form or mold is rendered unnecessary and the use of ways for launching the hull after coinpletioii is entirely dispensed with, thereby materially decreasing the cost` of construction and increasing the output or production.

The invention further contemplates the prevention of fracture of either the form or hull of the vessel by providing for the uniform elevation of the hull on an even keel within the mold during the floating operation.

A further object in View is the provision of a surfacing lining between the mold and the bottoni of the hull, said lining being perforated topermit the passage of water and being displaced by the action of said water during the floating operation.

The method consists, generally stated, in constructing a mold or form a sita, preferably lining the bottoni of the mold -with surfacing material, casting the hull within the mold, introducing water preferably through the bottom of the mold and through said lining to displace the latter', andl causing water to float the molded or cast hull out of the mold and into a receiving dock, discharging the water from the dock to lower the hull therein and permit the ap* plication of an exterior finish thereto, and

subse u a e L the dgclnitiitbthetlthiidliirifilbshed huurom g ay or channel.

Other and incidental objects will appear as the description proceeds. ln the drawings, wherein have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters desif nate corresponding parts throughout the several views: c

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus employed in carrying the improved method into effect, showin@- the initiall 'step or casting operation, b

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the cast or molded hull released from the mold in position to be floated into the receiving dock, b

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the hull within the receiving dock and ready to be iioated into` the lauiichin@r bay or channel, 1

Fig. l is a top plan view of Fig. l,

l? ig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, and showing lthe means for maintaining the hull on an even keel when floating the hull `vertically within the molding chamber,

Fig. 6 is a transverse ,sectional view on the line 6*6 of F ig. 4 and showing the hull supported on keel blocks within the receiving dock reparatory to applying the eX- terior finis thereto, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view showing the construction of the surfacing lining and the manner of admitting water thereto.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings. i

For the sake of illustration and for the further purpose of ena-bling those skilledl'in the art to readily construct a concrete hull in accordance with my improved method, I have shown and described a mold or apparatus capable of carrying the method into effect, but it may be here stated that said mold or apparatus and its associated parts form the subject matter of a separate ap plication, executed of even date herewith, and that no claim is made in this application thereto, the present invention being confined to the novel method of constructing and floating the hull.

The apparatus employed in carrying out the improved method comprises an outer mold or form 5 preferably formed of concrete and built insita' at a point convenient tothellaunching bay or channel, saidmold including innerand outer walls 6 and A7, spaced apart to' form a circumferential `chamber or passage 8 as shown.

The 'inner wall 6 ofv the Vouterform is of Y the shape or configuration of thehull 8 to be cast andis provided atV the bottom of the .mold and for a short distance' up the sides thereof, with transverse openings 9 which communicate with the chamber 8 and through which water isadmitted for the purpose of floating the'hull to release the samefrom the form ormold, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Y rlyheopenings 9' are normally closedl by a strip or layer of wire netting or other foraminousmaterial 10, which is temporarily securedV tov the inner surface of the inner wall 6 and is covered by a thin sheet metal plate 11 and one or more sheets or layers of' waterproof paper or similarmaterial 12, the wire netting terminating a short above the bottom ofthe mold and the paper A being extended the entire height of the r'nold as best shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

layeror layers of paper 12 form the finishing surface for the adjacent face of the mold and serve to prevent the cement from adhering thereto during the molding Orca-sting operation, while the wire netting permits the water to pass back of the layers of paper soas to dislodgeI "the .saine Vwhen water is admitted to the chamber 8 to effect the hydrostatic release of the hull from the mold.

The outer vwalls of the mold are preferably extended longitudinally to forma receiving dock 13 whichis separated from the mold by la transverse bridge wall 1li1 having openings 15 therein communicating with the interior of the dock and through which water is admitted and discharged for the purgose of Afilling or emptyingthe dock. Asu'itable Y gate 16 forms a closure-for the rear end of llevel so that after the exterior of the Vhas been coated ,out of the usually employed the gate 16 channel, y thus Vl''and is thence extended upwardly above A thejtop 4of the bridge wall so as to" permit the water to flow from the molding chamber over said 'bridge wall into the receiving dock and consequently di stance The through the openings 9 and permit the hull, afterV beingformed in the mold, to be Vfloated to a position over the receiving dock. VIt will,

Vof course, be understood that an inner form orshell (not shown) will be employed in Vconjunction with the outer formV in molding or casting the concrete hull, but as the mechanicall construction of the mold and receiving dock forms the `subject matter of a separate application, further detailed de,-

. scription thereof is deemed unnecessary.

In carrying out the improved method, the wire netting, metal plate and paper strips are temporarily secured to the inner wall of the outer' form in the manner shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, after Vwhich the inner form or shell is positioned in spaced relation thereto. and the concrete poured,

-shoveled or otherwise introduced between said forms and allowed to stand until thoroughly setor solidified. If desired, the concrete after being introduced into the molding compartment maybe tamped or otherwise treated to give the desired density to the molded mass. After the concrete of which the hull isformed has become thoroughly set (whichin actualpractice isV approximately twenty-eight days)V water is conveyed by means of a pump 18 from a suitable source of supply into the chamber 8 and thence into the receiving dock, a portion of the waterpassing throu'glifthe openings 9 from the adjacent chambei- Sand through the ineshof the wire netting, displacing the metal plate and paper strips at the bottom of the hull and causing'the hull to float in a vertical plane tothe position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Should one endof the hull be lighter than the other and tend to float or risemore quickly, Vsaid hull may be maintainedV on an even keel during its vertical travel to the top of the mold, by means of ya plurality.ofladjustabley cross beams 19, by adjusting which,l rising of the lighter end of the.' hull may be retarded at will so as'to preventtil ting orslrewing ofv said hull within the mold with consequent damage to either the mold or hull. `After the hull has been floated in 'la vertical pla-ne to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, said hull is floated in a horizontal plane over the bridge wall V14- into the receiving dock andv thence lowered onto suitable keel blocks 20 on the bottom of the receiving dock byeXha-ustiiig or discharging the water from `said receivingdock and in'which position access may be conveniently had to the exterior of the hull for the purpose of givf ing the same an exteriorvcoating or other finish. After the desired finish has beenimparted to they exterior of themolded hull .the gate 16 is opened, allowing the water from the launching bay orchannel to enter the receivingdock, when the hullV will be floated off of the lr'eel blocksv or supports 20 Vand out through the open end of the dock onto the waters of said launching bay or channel. The gate 16 is then closed and the pump 18 operated to discharge the water from the mold and receiving dock when the former will be in condition to again be used for casting a concrete hull.

By the practice of the method forming the subject matter of the present invention, the employment of scaffolding around the exterior of the mold is rendered unnecessary and the use of ways for launching' the hull after completion is entirely dispensed with, thereby not 'only materially decreasing the cost of construction but also increasing the output or production. Furthermore, inasmuch as the hull is floated out of the form or mold and floated onto the waters of the launching bay or channel, liability of cracking, straining or otherwise injuring the hull during transition to the launching waters is reduced to a minimum so that the completed hull will possess maximum efficiency.

l1`he outer form, being permanent or stationary and of a size capable of making standard sized hulls, may be used over and,

over again without any special attention on the part of the workmen and without the necessity of knocking down the form and subsequently assembling the parts each time a hull is cast, as is the case with molds now in general use for this purpose. 1f desired, the mold, instead of being constructed on the shore near the launching bay or channel, may be formed in or as part of a floating dock, in which event the submergence or partial submergence of the dock in the water will effect the floating of the east or molded hull within the mold to a position level with the surface of the water so that said hull may be floated out of the dock, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The method of constructing the hulls of ships from concrete which consists in covering the bottom of a suitable mold having perforations in its lower part with a lining of paper, casting the hull within the mold and subsequently introducing water through perforations in the mold to disintegrate the lining and float the hull out of the mold.

2. The method of constructing the hulls of ships from concrete which consists in casting the hull in a mold form, introducing water through perforations in the form to fioat the cast hull out of the form without destroying the integrity of said form, floating the cast hull into a receiving dock adjacent the form containing water, discharging the water from the dock to expose the exterior of the hull to permit the application of an exterior finish thereto, and subsequently fioating the finished hull out of the dock into a launching bay or channel.

3. The method of constructing the hulls of ships from concrete which consists in arranging a suitable mold form and receiving dock in juxtaposition to each other, casting the hull in the mold form, introducing water through perforations in the mold form to float the hull out of said form and at the same time admitting water into'the receiving dock, floating the hull from a position directly over the top of the form to a position within the receiving dock, discharging the water from said dock to expose the eX terior of the hull and permit the application of finishing material thereto, and subsequently admitting water into the receiving dock to float the hull into a launching bay or channel.

4. The method of constructing the hulls of ships from concrete which consists in ar ranging a suitable mold form and receiving dock in juxtaposition to each other, casting the hull within the form, admitting water into the receiving dock and between the form and hull to float the hull out of said form and to a position within the receiving dock without disturbing the integrity of the form, discharging thek water from within the receiving dock to expose the hull and permit the application of an exterior finish thereto, and subsequently admitting water at low tide sea level within the receiving dock to flolat the hull into a launching bay or channe 5. The method of constructing the hulls of ships from concrete which consists in casting the hull in a mold form, releasing the cast hull from the form by hydrostatic means and causing the hull to rise to the top of the mold on an even keel without diS- turbing said form, floating the hull into a receiving doel; filled with water, discharging the water from the receiving dock to expose the entire body of the hull for the applica tion of an exterior finish, and subsequently admitting water into the receiving dock to float the finished hull into a launching bay or channel.

6. The method of constructing the hulls of ships from concrete comprising the casting of the hull in a mold form, introducing water between the mold form and the hull to lioat the hull out of the form, floating the hull into an adjacent receiving dock filled with water and discharging the water from the receiving dock to expose the entire body of the hull, substantially as set forth.

1n testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JULIUS H. HOLMGREEN. [n s] 

